Frontiers in Veterinary Science· 2026Q1
First molecular detection of small ruminant lentivirus in a roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Italy
- 1citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Small Ruminant Lentivirus (SRLV) was molecularly detected for the first time in a roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Central Italy, with the virus identified as sub-genotype A23, closely related to strains found in domestic sheep and goats in Southern Italy.
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Key points
- SRLV was detected for the first time in a roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Central Italy.
- The detected virus belongs to the A23 sub-genotype.
- The SRLV strain found in the roe deer clusters with those previously identified in domestic species in Southern Italy.
- This represents an isolated case, but highlights potential spillover between wild and domestic ruminants.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Small Ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) infect sheep and goats worldwide, representing one of the most insidious viral infections in this species. Presence of antibodies against SRLVs was reported in wild ruminants in the USA and Europe and detection of virus was reported from wild ibex ( Capra ibex ) and red deer ( Cervus elaphus ) in Europe. This evidence suggests the potential role of wild ruminants as SRLVs reservoirs. A passive surveillance program was conducted in roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ) from 2023 to 2025 in Central Italy, to investigate the presence and circulation of SRLVs. In 2025, one female roe deer was detected positive for SRLVs by PCR; sequencing and phylogenetic analysis indicated the virus belonged to the A23 sub-genotype, clustering with SRLVs previously identified in domestic species in Southern Italy. Even though this is an isolated case, this first-ever detection of SRLV in a roe deer suggests the possibility of spillover to/from domestic small ruminants and highlights the importance of long-term wildlife monitoring to clarify the extent and dynamics of SRLV circulation in wild cervid populations.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2026 · DOI ↗
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